Memorial
of Our Lady of Sorrows
Lectionary: 444/639
Reading 1
Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the Martyr’s crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
or
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091520.cfm
Meditation: Standing by the Cross of Jesus
Does
suffering or sorrow weigh you down? The cross brings us face to face with
Jesus' suffering. He was alone. All his disciples had deserted him except for
his mother and three women along with John, the beloved disciple. The apostles
had fled in fear. But Mary, the mother of Jesus and three other women who loved
him were present at the cross. They demonstrate the power of love for
overcoming fear (1 John 4:18).
Love sustains us in hope through griefs and trials
At the beginning of Jesus' birth, when he was presented in the temple, Simeon
had predicted that Mary would suffer greatly - a sword will pierce
through your own soul (see Luke 2:33-35). Many have called Mary a
martyr in spirit. Bernard of Clairvaux said: "[Jesus] died in body through
a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike
any other since his." Mary did not despair in her sorrow and loss, since
her faith and hope were sustained by her trust in God and the love she had for
her Son.
The love of Christ enables us to bear all things
Jesus, in his grief and suffering, did not forget his mother. He entrusted her
care to John, as well as John to her. No loss, no suffering can keep us from
the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). Paul the Apostle says that love
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1
Corinthians 13:3). We can find no greater proof of God's love for us than the
willing sacrifice of his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on the
cross. Do you know the love that enables you to bear your cross and to endure
trial and difficulties with faith and hope in God?
Lord
Jesus Christ, by your death on the cross you have won pardon for us and freedom
from the tyranny of sin and death. May I live in the joy and freedom of your
victory over sin, condemnation, and death.
Daily
Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Mary stood at the cross with her Son
Jesus, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"Mary,
the mother of the Lord, stood by her Son's cross. No one has taught me this but
the holy Evangelist John. Others have related how the earth was shaken at the
Lord's passion, the sky was covered with darkness, the sun withdrew itself
(Matthew 27:45) and how the thief was, after a faithful confession, received
into paradise (Luke 23:43). John tells us what the others have not told, how
the Lord while fixed on the cross called to his mother. He thought it was more
important that, victorious over his sufferings, Jesus gave her the offices of
piety than that he gave her a heavenly kingdom. For if it is the mark of
religion to grant pardon to the thief, it is a mark of much greater piety that
a mother is honored with such affection by her Son. 'Behold,' he says, 'your
son.' ...'Behold your mother.' Christ testified from the cross and divided the
offices of piety between the mother and the disciple...
"Nor was Mary below what was becoming the mother of Christ. When the
apostles fled, she stood at the cross and with pious eyes beheld her Son's
wounds. For she did not look to the death of her offspring but to the salvation
of the world. Or perhaps, because that 'royal hall' [Mary as bearer of the
divine King] knew that the redemption of the world would be through the death
of her Son, she thought that by her death she also might add something to that
universal gift. But Jesus did not need a helper for the redemption of all, who
saved all without a helper. This is why he says, 'I am counted among those who
go down to the pit. I am like those who have no help' (Psalm 88:4-5). He
received indeed the affection of his mother but sought not anothers help.
Imitate her, holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son set forth so
great an example of maternal virtue. For neither have you sweeter children, nor
did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another
son." (excerpt from LETTER 63.109-11)
https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2020&date=sep15a
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, JOHN 19:25-27 or LUKE 2:33-35
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31 a; Psalm 100)
KEY VERSE: "Woman, behold your son" (v.26).
TO KNOW: For the second time in John's gospel Jesus addressed his mother as "woman" (see Wedding at Cana, John 2:4). This unusual title goes back to the first promise of redemption to Eve: "I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman" (Gn 3:15). John sees Mary as the "new Eve" whose obedience to God reversed the penalty of death due to sin, and her son as the "new Adam" who opened wide the gates of salvation by his saving death. On Calvary, Satan was crushed through the death of Mary's offspring. When Jesus gave his life for us, he also gave us his mother. Mary stood at the cross with John, the beloved disciple, who represents all Christians who seek salvation in Christ. Simeon's prophecy that Mary would "be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare" (Lk 2:35) was fulfilled on Calvary. She was the suffering Mother of the Church that was about to be born. Mary is the role-model for all believers. Imitating her dispositions for humility, faithfulness, and praise equip all Christians for full ministry in the Church.
TO LOVE: Have I made a home in my heart for Mary?
TO SERVE: Mary my mother, help me to be a dutiful son or daughter of the Church.
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows: Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Dolours, Mater Dolorosa, and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows are names by which the Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life. The Seven Sorrows are often depicted as seven daggers stabbed into her heart in fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy (Luke 2:35). Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady has its roots in Sacred Scripture and in Christian piety, which always associates the Blessed Mother with her suffering Son. Today's feast was introduced by the Servites in order to intensify devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows. In 1817 Pius VII — suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession — extended the feast to the universal Church.
http://www.togetherwithgodsword.com/commentaries-on-the-daily-gospel-of-the-mass.html
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Our Lady of Sorrows
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31. We are his people: the sheep of
his flock – Psalm 99(100). Luke 7:11-17.
Our Lady watches over us
‘At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother
weeping, close to her Son to the last’, begins the Stabat Mater hymn.
Today we place ourselves in the shoes of Mary, Mother of Jesus,
as she keeps sorrowful vigil over her dying son. We also keep in our minds and
hearts all mothers who keep a vigil over their children from the time they’re
vulnerable infants, through their childhood and adolescence, to their time in
the world.
As we encounter people today, and throughout this week, let us
consider them not just as shopkeepers, police officers, doctors, friends, but
as children who a mother has raised and nurtured as a gift to the world.
In doing so, let us also be grateful for how each person is
loved and cherished and watched over by Our Lady.
http://www.pray.com.au/gospel_reflection/tuesday-15-september-2020/
Our Lady of Sorrows
Saint of the Day for September 15
Our Lady of Sorrows statue in Golgotha, Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem | photo by creisor
The Story of Our Lady of Sorrows
For a while there were two feasts in honor of the Sorrowful
Mother: one going back to the 15th century, the other to the 17th century. For
a while both were celebrated by the universal Church: one on the Friday before
Palm Sunday, the other in September.
The principal biblical references to Mary’s sorrows are in Luke
2:35 and John 19:26-27. The Lucan passage is Simeon’s prediction about a sword
piercing Mary’s soul; the Johannine passage relates Jesus’ words from the cross
to Mary and to the beloved disciple.
Many early Church writers interpret the sword as Mary’s sorrows,
especially as she saw Jesus die on the cross. Thus, the two passages are
brought together as prediction and fulfillment.
Saint Ambrose in particular sees Mary as a sorrowful yet
powerful figure at the cross. Mary stood fearlessly at the cross while others
fled. Mary looked on her Son’s wounds with pity, but saw in them the salvation
of the world. As Jesus hung on the cross, Mary did not fear to be killed, but
offered herself to her persecutors.
Reflection
John’s account of Jesus’ death is highly symbolic. When Jesus
gives the beloved disciple to Mary, we are invited to appreciate Mary’s role in
the Church: She symbolizes the Church; the beloved disciple represents all
believers. As Mary mothered Jesus, she is now mother to all his followers.
Furthermore, as Jesus died, he handed over his Spirit. Mary and the Spirit
cooperate in begetting new children of God—almost an echo of Luke’s account of
Jesus’ conception. Christians can trust that they will continue to experience
the caring presence of Mary and Jesus’ Spirit throughout their lives and
throughout history.
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-sorrows/
Lectio Divina: Our Lady of Sorrows
Lectio Divina
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Ordinary Time
John 19:25-27
1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
our creator and guide,
may we serve You with all our hearts
and know Your forgiveness in our lives.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - John 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother
and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman,
behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your
mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
3) Reflection
• Today, feast of Our Sorrowful Mother, the Gospel of the day
presents the passage in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Beloved
Disciple, meet at Calvary before the Cross. The Mother of Jesus appears two
times in the Gospel of John: at the beginning at the wedding feast in Cana (Jn
2:1-5), and at the end, at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19: 25-27). These two
episodes, only present in John’s Gospel, have a very profound value. The Gospel
of John, compared to the synoptics, is like an x-ray of the other three, while
the other three are only a photograph of what has taken place. The x-rays of
faith help us to discover in the events dimensions which the human eye does
not perceive. The Gospel of John, besides describing the facts, reveals
the symbolical dimension which exists in them. Thus, in both cases, at Cana and
at the foot of the Cross, the Mother of Jesus represents symbolically the Old
Testament waiting for the New Testament to arrive, and in the two cases, she
contributes to the arrival of the New Testament. Mary appears like the step
between what existed before and what will arrive afterwards. At Cana she
symbolizes the Old Testament; she perceives the limits of the Old Testament and
takes the initiative so that the New one may arrive. She tells her Son, “They
have no wine!” (Jn 2:3). And on Calvary? Let us see:
• John 19:25: The women and the Beloved Disciple, together at the foot of the Cross.
This is what the Gospel says: “Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and His
mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.” The
“photograph” shows the mother together with the Son, standing up, a strong
woman, who does not allow herself to be discouraged. “Stabat mater dolorosa!”
Hers is a silent presence which supports the Son in His gift of self unto
death, death on a cross (Phil 2:8). But the “x-ray” of faith shows how the
passage from the Old Testament to the New Testament takes place. As happened in
Cana, the Mother of Jesus represents the Old Testament, the new humanity which
is formed beginning from the lived experience of the Gospel of the Kingdom. At
the end of the first century, some Christians thought that the Old Testament
was no longer necessary. In fact, at the beginning of the second century,
Marcionites rejected the Old Testament and remained with only a part of the New
Testament. This is why many wanted to know what was Jesus’ will regarding this.
• John 19:26-28: The Testament or the Will of Jesus. The words of Jesus are
significant. Seeing His Mother, and at her side the beloved disciple, Jesus
says, “Woman, this is your son.” Then He says to the disciple, “This is your
mother.” The Old and the New Testament must walk together. At the request of
Jesus, the beloved disciple, the son, the New Testament, receives the mother in
his house. In the house of the Beloved Disciple, in the Christian community,
the full sense of the Old Testament is discovered. The New Testament cannot be
understood without the Old one, nor is the Old one complete without the New
one. Saint Augustine said, “Novum in vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet.” (The
New one is hidden in the Old one. The Old one blooms in the New one). The New
one without the Old one would be a building without a foundation. And the Old
one without the New one would be like a fruit tree which could not bear fruit.
• Mary in the New Testament. The New Testament speaks very little about Mary,
and she says even less. Mary is the mother of silence. The bible only contains
seven utterances of Mary. Each one of those is like a window which allows one
to see inside Mary’s house and to discover how her relationship with God was.
The key to understanding all this is given by Luke: “Blessed are those who
receive the word of God and put it into practice” (Lk 11: 27-28).
1st: “How can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?” (Lk 1:34).
2nd: “You see before you the Lord’s servant; let it happen to me as you have
said.” (Lk 1:38).
3rd: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior (Lk 1: 46-55).”
4th: “My child, why have You done this to us? Your father and I were worried
looking for you” (Lk 2: 48).
5th: “They have no wine!” (Jn 2: 3.)
6th: “Do whatever He tells you!” (Jn 2:5).
7th: The silence at the foot of the Cross, more eloquent than a thousand words!
(Jn 19: 25-27).
4) Personal questions
• Mary at the foot of the Cross. A strong and silent woman. What
is my devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, like?
• In the Pieta of Michelangelo, Mary seems to be very young, younger than the
crucified Son, yet she must have been about fifty years old. Asked why he had
sculptured the face of Mary as a young girl, Michelangelo replied, “People who
are passionate for God never age!” Passionate for God! Is that passion for God
in me?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh, how abundant is the goodness You have in store
for those who fear You,
and bestow on those who make You their refuge,
for all humanity to see!
Safe in Your presence You hide them,
far from human plotting. (Ps 31:19-20)
https://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-bv-maria-addolorata-john-1925-27
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